Gas tube accumulator carry circuit



Feb. 3, 1959 R. B. KOEHLER GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR CARRY CIRCUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1953 M. NO

m0 F OD NF no IN V EN TOR. ROBERT B. KOEHLER .PDnEbO mokshzmmmuua GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR CARRY CIRCUIT Robert B. Koehler, Hopewell Junction, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 20, 1953, Serial No. 343,767 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 235-61) The present invention relates to gas tube accumulator systems for the several orders of an accumulator such as that disclosed in the copending application of E. I. Rabenda, Number 306,983, which was filed August 29, 1952.

In systems of the type described in this application, a

group of glow transfer counter tubes, representative of the units, tens, hundreds, etc., orders are provided to accumulate digits in the corresponding order positions of multi-digit characters sequentially sensed from permanent records such as punched cards. Each counter tube has a storage capacity of ten manifestations and, as the digit value in each order may vary between and 9, after a first character has been read and entered, the glow discharge in the counter tubes of the accumulator will be positioned correspondingly. Entry of a succeeding multi-digit character then may cause particular ones of the order tubes to be advanced past the nines position and, in so doing, a l is carried from the particular order counter to the next higher order counter in response to transfer of the glow from the 9 digit cathode position. In systems heretofore employed for accumulation in this manner, a carry impulse from one denominational order tube to the next higher order tube must be stored until after a number of pulses corresponding with the value of the digit at each order position have been entered. This necessitates, in addition to storage and switching means, the provision of a period of time for the carry operation to be accomplished after a first read-in period is completed and before a second is started.

' The principal object of this invention resides in elimination of the aforementioned storage and switching means and the carry time interval, to thereby improve the operation of such accumulating systems.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel carry circuit interconnecting the several denominational order discharge tubes whereby carry entries are made during the time interval between the end of the pulse which produced the carry and the beginning of the next pulse to be counted.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating three denominational orders of an accumulator and the novel carry circuit components interconnecting these orders,

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the waveforms of voltage pulses appearing at the points indicated in the circuit of Fig. 1,

- Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the arrangement of the cathodes in one of the denominationally ordered adding tubes, and

Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically a transverse section through a row of cathodes to show their relative associaticn.

States Patent 9 To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a brief description of the operation of the system described in the aforementioned patent application, No. 306,983, new Patent No. 2,829,830, to which this application is related as an improvement, will now be given.

A record card of the well known type having a plurality of vertical columns with the usual ten digit representing perforations 0 to 9, is advanced through a card reading station with the 9s positioned first. As the card is fed past a set of reading brushes, contact is made with a conductive roller through perforations, representative of a multi-digit number, which are punched in the card, and positive pulses appear in the brush sensing circuits at differential times indicative of the particular digit sensed in any order column. Each differential pulse is employed to connect the input circuit of a corresponding denominational order counter tube to a source of counting pulses under the control of an electronic circuit breaker (T47) described in the application above referred to. The electronic circuit breaker is operable to effect a delivery of counting pulses equal to the value of the digit represented by the hole sensed during a card reading cycle. In this manner, each differentially timed pulse resulting from the sensing of a card is converted to a series of counting pulses corresponding in number to the value of the digit represented by the perforation sensed.

The paritcular denominational order counter employed in the present invention is of the cold cathode glow type such as disclosed and claimed in copending U. S. patent application, Serial No. 301,675, filed July 30, 1952, now Patent No. 2,837,276 and which is also described in the aforementioned copending patent application, Serial No. 306,983.

The counter tube is shown schematically in Fig. 1 with a more mechanical representation shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and will be but briefly described here. Each denominational order comprises a tube prefixed G of the glow transfer type wherein a single glow discharge exists at all times when the device is in operation. Ten digit representing cathodes, designated D0 to D9, and ten transfer cathodes, designated T0 to T9, are alternately interspersed with one another to form a closed glow transfer path having ten stable glow discharge positions. The cathodes are each formed as open ended cylinders (see Fig. 4) having different materials on their inner and outer surfaces so that a glow discharge is confined to the inside surface. A single anode A is common to all the cathodes and is positioned equidistantly from all of them. in Fig. 3, the anode A is represented as a rectangle to indicate this relationship.

A number of glow transfer wires 1 are provided as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each of the transfer wires t is connected at one end to a cathode T or D and has its free end extending into the space between another cathode and the anode A so that a continuous glow transfer path is formed. The glow is made to transfer to the next higher order digit cathode by means of a directional preference mechanism characterized by differences in position, shape or materials of distinct portions of each cathode member such as the cylinder and attached transfer Wire above described.

Ten complement cathodes, designated C, are also provided within the tube and are arranged in a preselected glow transfer relation with the digit cathodes D as shown in Fig. 3. Transfer wires t connect these complement cathodes with the digit cathodes D for transfer of the glow discharge in either direction between each cathode D and the cathode corresponding to its 9s complement.

The cathodes prefixed C0 to C9, T0 to T9 and D1 to D9 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 as single ele ode D representing the next higher digit.

reading cycle.

ments for simplicity of. illustration as they are commonly connected for simultaneaus energization as will be later described. Cathode D is shown separately because of its output connection; input pulse is applied simultaneously to the commonly connected transfer cathodes T through a K or 28,000? ohm resistor and a conductor 10. The input pulse lowers the potential of the transfer cathodes T and causes a glow discharge existing at any one of the digit. representing cathodes D0 to D9 to transfor to the adjacent transfer cathode T and then, on termination of the input pulse, to transfer to the digit cath- To explain the function of the complement cathode elements, cathode C2,. for example, is arranged to transfer glow from cathode D7 to cathode D2 representing its 9s complement and further, complement cathode C7 is arranged to transfer glow from cathode D2 to its complement representing "athode 13?. Each complement cathode is connected for common energization through an individual 20K resistor to a lead 11. If a glow exists on cathode D2, for example, a negative pulse on lead 11 will cause the glow to transfer to cathode C2 which is then at a lower potential. When the pulse is terminated and line 11 goes positive, the glow is transferred from cathode C2 to cathode D7 where it remains in a stable condi tion until either the transfer cathodes T are pulsed through lead 10 or complement cathodes C are again pulsed through lead 11.

In the process of addition, the numerical value standing in the counter tube as a glow discharge existing between a digit representing cathode D and the anode A is advanced by application of pulses to the transfer cathodes causing the glow to advance step by step in response to each of the applied. pulses. in the subtraction process, the number standing in the counter is'first inverted to its 9s complement by pulsing the complement cathode lead 11 and thereafter the number to be subtracted, as represented by voltage pulses, is applied to the transfer cathode lead 10 and, upon completion of the entry, the complement lead is againpulscd. an 8 stands in the counter and a 5 is to be subtracted (add 5), the glow existing on D8 is first transferred to its complement cathode DE then five input pulses step the glow to cathode D6 and thereafter a pulse applied to lead 11 tranfers it to its 9s complement cathode D3, In carrying out a subtraction process, each order of the accumulator is normally complemented simultaneously and the signal pulse accomplishing this function is applied to a conductor 12 which is normally maintained at a potential of approximately +225 volts by a voltage divider comprising a 560K resistor and 430K resistor connected between a source of positive potential of 515 volts and ground. I When an amount standing in the order countcrs'and the number of count pulses applied to it is greater than nine, an output signal is sensed from the 9 digit representing cathode as the glow migrates from this cathode element. This output signal or carry pulse is stored until a carry time interval which is pro-v vided after all the pulses tobe counted are applied to the counters, or in other words, at the end of theicard sensed from the 9 digit representing cathode is applied to the next higher order counter.

in accordance with the invention, the carry pulse is taken from the 0 digit position cathode Dd rather than.

from the 9 digitiposition cathode D9 and is applied to -the next higher denominational order of theaccumulator during an interval of time between successive pulses metered from the electronic circuit breaker so that the carry function is accomplished immediately as it occurs If. for example,

At carry time, the .stored carry pulse 'through a 470 ohm resistor to line 22.

shown in Fig. 1. Input terminals 13 of each order. are connected through a 470K or 470,000 ohm resistor and a 2 megohm resistor to a source potential of volts. Grid 15 of a driver tube 16 is connected through a 1.1K resistor to the common terminal of the 470 ohm and 2 megohm resistors. The cathode 17 of the driver tube 16 is connected to ground and the anode 18 is connected througha lead 19 to the junction of a voltage divider resistance network comprising a 560K and a 430K resist- I ance connected between a positive source of potential of +515 volts and ground. The anode 18 of the driver tube is normally held at a potential of approximately +225 volts by this network and lead 10, which is connected to the junction of these resistors, is also held at this potential. Anode A of the counter tube G is connected through 68K or 68,000 ohm resistor to the +515 volt source. The digit representing cathode D1 to D9 are connected through 36K resistors coupled in common to a switch 21 and. to a lead 22 which is maintained at a potential of volts by a source not shown. The switch 21'. is provided to initially reset the counter since, when the tube is first energized, the glow discharge will be established at an. indeterminate one of the cathodes D and by opening switch 21 will transfer to cathode D0. The D0 or home position cathode is connected through 36K resistor to the lead 22 and an output lead 23 is connected between the D0 cathode and a 8.2K resistor. The other terminal 2d of the 8.2K resistor is connected through a 0.005 microfarad condenser to the line 22 and the junction of 8.2K resistor and 0.005 microfarad capacitor is connected through a 0.003 microfara'd condenser: to junction 25 of a resistor bridge comprising a 330K resistor and a l megohm resistor. The remaining terminal of the 330K resistor is connected to ground and that of the l megohm resistor is connected to a negativeso'urce of potential of 100 volts. The junction 25 is connected through a 560 ohm resistor to the control grid 26 of a carry tube 27. The cathodeZS and suppressor grid 29 of carry tube 27 are commonly connected' to ground. and the screen grid 30 is connected The anode of tube 27 is coupled to output lead 32 which is connected with lead 10 of a next higher order counter tube. It is through this circuit that the carry pulse is applied to the transfer cathodes of the succeeding denominational order counter. As a glow transfers from the transfer cathode T0, adjacent digit cathode D9, and arrives at the digit cathode D0, the potential on line 25' rises from +150 volts to approximately +220 volts. The 68K plate resistor of each counter tube G is in series with the internal tube resistance between anode A and cathode D0 and this resistance combination is in parallel with the 36K cathode load resistance. The series parallel combination is in series with the 8.2K resistor and the 0.005 microfarad condenser and comprises an integrating circuit. The rise in potential on lead 23 produces an output from this integrating circuit at terminal 2=l,-such as is shown graphically in Fig. 2. The 0.003

microfarad condenser is in series with the parallel comv v potential increases to a value of approximately 6 volts and the so-called carry time interval provided at the end of each read cycle is eliminated. A plurality of gas tube counters are provided as required to accumulate characters comprising any desired number of digits, however, to avoid repetitious illustration, only three orders are and conductivity of the tube is terminated as the grid potential decreases below this value. The 560 ohmresister in the grid circuit limits the increase in grid potential beyond zero volts so that a clipped output pulse having a waveform such as that illustrated in Fig. 2

appears on lead 32 and is directed *to the transfer cathode circuit of the next higher order counter. By proper adjustment of the components comprising. the integrating and differentiating circuits, output pulses appearing on line 32 may be made to have a duration of 630 microseconds and to appear 70 microseconds after transfer of the glow discharge to the D0 cathode which is timed as represented in Fig. 2. The duration of the carry pulse and the interval of delay provided by the particular component parameters that are described above have been found to allow the system to operate reliably. It is to be understood, however, that the period of delay as well as the carry pulse duration is set forth by way of example only and one and/or the other may be increased or decreased as desired by proper adjustment.

The counting pulses representative of a particular digit and which are applied to leads 13 of the counter circuit are of 500 microseconds duration and are spaced apart in time to provide a suificient interval for the carry pulse to be applied during the interval between counting pulses. Since the accumulator employs a ripple down type of carry, the time provided between pulses must be sutficient to allow a carry from one order to another throughout the entire accumulator. It has been determined that a period of 100 microseconds should be allowed between the end of the last carry pulse and the beginning of the next metered pulse. Consequently, for an accumulator having denominational orders, the minimum time between the leading edges of successive counting pulses must be (630+70) l0+500+100 or 7600 microseconds, giving a pulse rate of 131 per second. With an increase in the number of orders of such an accumulator, the pulse rate must be made correspondingly lower, however, it is contemplated that plurality of such accumulators be employed in one device to individually accumulate characters read from different fields of a record card so that the period of accumulation may be maintained at a reasonably high level.

Read-out of the digit value standing in the accumulator at the conclusion of the entry of a plurality of characters and which represents a total of such characters is accomplished by application of a series of ten impulses metered from the electronic circuit breaker to each of the counter tubes. The ten pulses advance all the orders ten steps during which each counter glow discharge will pass through the zero digit position and return to its initial position. During this read-out operation, the carry controls are suppressed so that carry impulses are not transmitted and will have no eifect, however, as the glow discharge is transferred to the zero cathode D0, 2. positive swing in voltage is sensed on lead 23 in the same manner as for 10s carry. An output lead 33 which is coupled to conductor 23 is then subjected to the positive voltage pulse which appears at a difierential time corresponding to the value of the digit stored in the counter tube and may be utilized to control the operation of the stopping magnets of well-known differential printing or other form of recording mechanism.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention. therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A parallel operated gas discharge accumulator system comprising, in combination; a plurality of cold cathode glow transfer gas counter tubes, one provided for each denominational order of the accumulator; input means for applying a series of pulses to be counted to each of said order counters; means for applying a carry impulse from one counter tube to the next higher order counter tube between the end of the pulse producing the carry and the beginning of the next pulse to be counted, said means comprising a self-timing delay network including an integrating circuit and a differentiating circuit series connected with a pulse shaping and amplifying device.

2. A parallel operated accumulator system comprising a plurality of cold cathode glow transfer type counter tubes, one provided for each denominational order of the accumulator, means for applying a series of input pulses to each of said counter tubes, carry means for each of said tubes for applying a carry impulse from one counter tube to the next higher order counter tube between the end of the pulse producing the carry and the beginning of the next input pulse to be counted, said carry means including a self-timing delay network including an integrating and a diiierentiating circuit.

3. In a parallel operated accumulator system comprising a plurality of multicathode glow transfer gas tube counters having a capacity of ten manifestations, one provided for each denominational order of the accumulator, means for applying a series of input pulses to be accumulated to each of said order counters, carry means for each of said counters for applying a carry impulse from one counter to the next higher order counter between the end of the pulse producing the carry and the beginning of the next input pulse to be counted, said carry means including a self-timing delay network including an integrating and a differentiating circuit.

4. In a parallel operated accumulator system having a plurality of counters with one counter provided for each denominational order of the accumulator, means for applying a series of input pulses to be counted to each of said order counters, carry means for each of said counters for applying a carry impulse from one counter to the next higher order counter between the end of the pulse producing the carry and the beginning the next input pulse to be counted, said carry means comprising a self-timing delay network including an integrating circuit and a differentiating circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,989 Dickinson July 2, 1946 2,405,096 Mumma July 30, 1946 2,422,583 Mumma June 17, 1947 2,484,115 Palmer et a1. Oct. 11, 1949 2,528,394 Sharpless et al. Oct. 31, 1950 2,575,517 Hagen Nov. 20, 1951 2,587,979 Dickinson et al. Mar. 4, 1952 2,595,045 Desch et a1. Apr. 29, 1952 2,635,810 Townsend Apr. 21, 1953. 2,641,407 Dickinson June 9, 1953 2,703,678 Hopkins et al. Mar. 8, 1955 2,706,597 Crossman Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,672 Great Britain July 30, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES 0 Hough and D. S. Ridler, Electronics Engineering, June 1952, pages 272-277. 

